Method and apparatus for producing weight controlled groups of sliced food product

ABSTRACT

A method and apparatus for producing weight controlled stacks of counted slices cut from an elongated mass of food product includes means for feeding the mass longitudinally along a downward feed path into a cutting path normal thereto, a rotary knife movable around the cutting path to cut slices from the mass, means below the cutting path for accumulating a selected number of the slices into a group, means positioned below the accumulating means for weighing a group of slices and producing a signal in response to the weight thereof, means for removing the group from the weighing means after the signal is produced, means for varying the rotary speed of the knife around the cutting path according to the weight signal, and means for accepting or rejecting weighed groups in response to the weight signal.

GROUPS OF SLICED FOOD PRODUCT [75] Inventor: Gary Leonard Wallace, OakLawn,

Ill.

[73] Assignee: Chemetron Corporation, Chicago,

Ill.

[22] Filed: Sept. 28, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 293,146

52 us. c1. 209/74 R, 209/121 [51] Int. Cl B07b 13/08 [58] Field ofSearch... 209/73, 121, 74 R; 198/31 AC, 190

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,334,384 11/1943 Cohen198/31 AC 2,664,557 12/1953 Sargrove 209/121 X 2,880,847 4/1959 Kelley198/190 X 2,938,626 5/1960 Dahms 209/121 United States Patent 1191 11113,823,821 Wallace 7 July 16, 1974 [54] METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR3,190,432 6/1965 Vanderhoof 209/121 x PRODUCING WEIGHT CONTROLLED3,724,570 4/1973 Chenut 209/121 Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles 57ABSTRACT A method and apparatus for producing weight controlled stacksof counted slices cut from an elongated mass of food product includesmeans for feeding the mass longitudinally along a downward feed pathinto a the cutting path according to the weight signal, and

means for accepting or rejecting weighed groups in response to theweight signal.

6 Claims, 18 Drawing Figures PATENTED JUL 1 61974 SHEET 01 or 1 PATENTEUL 1 6 374 SHEET 02 0F 13 PATENTED L I 1974 saw on or 13 PATENTEDJUHSIWsum as 3,823,821

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PATENTEU JUL 1 6 m4 SHEET ()7 g; 13 3 823,821

Now b3 Qm Em PATENTEU JUL 1 6 I974 sum 12 or 13 The present invention isdirected towards a new and improved method and apparatus for producingweight controlled stacks or groups of counted slices cut from anelongated mass or loaf of a food products such as cold cuts, sausage,cheese or the like. Food products such as process cheese, luncheonmeats, bologna,-salami and the like are produced in elongated loaves,often four to six feet long, having generally uniform cross-sections ofvarious shapes and dimensions. These products are sold at retail outletsto the consuming public in relatively small packages containing aselected number of relatively thin slices cut transversely from theloaf.

In commercial practice, each package containing a stack or other groupof counted slices must have a net food product weight exceeding or atleast equal to a weight printed or otherwise indicated on the package.It is desirable to produce such packages which closely meet theweightsindicated on the packages with a minimum number of underweightrejects. Also it is very important to minimize the amount of excessfood'product furnished above the weights indicated on the packages.Thus, great savings can be obtained by mass producing the packageswithin close tolerances on an automatic weight-controlled slicing systemcapable of operating at high production rates.

Prior cutters and weighers are capable of maintaining production ratesof only about percent of the production rate of the apparatus of thepresent invention.

- Accordingly, the present invention provides great economic savings interms of an increased production rate, a reduction in the occurrence ofunderweight and overweight packages and a significant savings in laborcost per package.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new andimproved method and apparatus for producing weight controlled stacks ofcounted slices cut from an elongated mass or loaf of food product.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedmethod and apparatus of the character described, which is capable ofoperating at high production rates and maintaining a low percentage ofunderweight rejects while at the same time minimizing the amount ofexcess packaged food product above the minimum package weight required.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedapparatus of the character described which is extremely fast andreliable in operation and which is automatic from the time that a loafof food product is first introduced into thesystem until after theweight'classified stacks or other groups of counted slices leave thesystem for further handling.

Another objectof the present invention is to provide a new and improvedslicer for continuously cutting successive slices from an elongated loafof food product wherein the loaf is moved uninterruptedly along a feedpath into a cutting path and wherein a speed adjustable rotary knife isprovided for cutting successive slices from the loaf at a rotary speedcontrolled according to the weight of the slices. A

Another object of the present invention is to provide a slicer having anew and improved feeder for feeding 2 a loaf of food product along afeed path into the cutting path of a rotary knife.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedslicer of the character described wherein the loaf is fed through arestricted orifice located above the cutting path of the knife forcompressively holding and positively aligning the loaf at a levelclosely adjacent to the cutting path of the knife.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedslicer of the character described wherein the orifice is taperedinwardly in the direction of the feeding of the loaf.

Another object of thepresent invention is to provide a new and improvedslicer of the character described wherein the margin of the orifice ispositioned to provide a shearing surface Cooperating with the knife inthe cutting of successive slices from the loaf.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedslicer for cutting successive slices from elongated loaves of foodproduct wherein the speed of a rotary knife is varied in response to asignal produced from a slice weight measuring means.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedslicer of the character described in combination with a stacker foraccumulating slices cut successively from a loaf and for separating theslices into separate groups containing a selected number of slices.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedstacker of the character described wherein each successive slice cutfrom a loaf fails a substantially .constant distance onto -a receivermovable downwardly at a rate infinitely variable within a range to equalsubstantially the rate at which the loaf is fed to be sliced.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedstacker of the character described having means for rapidly releasing agroup of a counted. number of accumulated slices without interruption ofthe succession of slices from the cutter supplied to the stacker.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedstacker of the character described which does not require interruptionof the feed of the loaf during the time agroup of counted slices isreleased by the stacker.

Another objectof the present invention is to provide a new and improvedstacker of the character described operable to rapidly deposit anaccumulated stack of slices onto a weighing device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedweighing system. capable of accurately weighing an "accumulated group ofslices and producing a signal in response thereto.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new and improvedweighing system of the character described wherein the signal producedrepresents a deviation in the weight of a group of slices from aselected reference weight. 1

Another object of .the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved control means for automatically controlling the apparatus ofthe present invention to divide an elongated mass of a food product intoa plurality of'separate groups, each group containing a plurality ofseparate members, said control means including means for weighing eachof the groups and for determining whether the weight of each of thegroups is within a predetermined acceptable weight range.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved control means for automatically controlling the apparatus ofthe present invention to divide an elongated mass of a food product intoa plurality of separate groups, each group having a plurality ofseparate members, wherein the control means includes means for weighingeach of the groups and for generating an error signal indicative of theamount by which the weight of each of the groups differs from apredetermined desired weight.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new andimproved control means for automatically controlling the apparatus ofthe present invention to divide an elongated mass of a food product intoa plurality of separate groups, each group having a plurality ofseparate slices, wherein the control means includes a slicer mechanismhaving means for adjusting the slicing rate in response to a signalindicative of the amount by which the weight of each of the groups dif-'fers from a predetermined desired weight.

Another object of the present invention isto provide new and improvedmeans forv dividing an elongated mass of a food product into a pluralityof separate groups, each group having a plurality of separate slices,and means for forming the plurality of separate groups, wherein theforming means includes means for receiving the slices to form theseparate groups sequentially, and means for discharging eachsequentially formed group from the receiving means in response to acontrol signal.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of new andimproved means for dividing an elongated mass into a plurality ofseparate groups, each group having a plurality of separate members,wherein the dividing means includes a slicing mechanism for forming theseparate members and means for increasing the speed of the slicingmechanism in response to the receipt of a signal indicating that theweight of one of the plurality of groups of separate members is greaterthan a predetermined desired weight.

Another objectof the present invention is to provide new and improvedmeans for dividing an elongated mass into a plurality, of separategroups, each group having a pluralityof separate members, wherein thedividing means incudes a slicing mechanism for forming the separatemembers and means for decreasing the speed of the slicing mechanism inresponse to the receipt of a signal indicating that the weight of one ofthe plurality of separate groups of separate members is less than apredetermined desired weight.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improvedmeans for dividing an elongated mass into a plurality of separategroups, each group having a plurality of separate members,,wherein thedividing means includes means for controllably discharging each of thegroups of separate members along one of two discharge paths dependentupon the presence or absence of a control signal. V I

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improvedmeans for dividing an elongated mass into a plurality of separategroups, each group having a plurality of separate members, wherein thedividing means includes means for discharging one of thegroupsofseparate members along a first of two discharge paths inresponse to the receipt of a control signal indicating that the weightof that one group is outside of a predetermined acceptable weight range.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improvedmeans for dividing an elongated 'mass into a plurality of separategroups, each group having a plurality of separate members, wherein thedividing means includes means for discharging one of the plurality ofseparate groups of separate members along a second of two dischargepaths after a determination that the weight of that one of the pluralityof separate groups is within .a predetermined acceptable weight range.

Another object of this invention is toprovide new and'improved mechanismfor transferring successive groups of sliced material from a platform.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new .and' improvedmechanism of the character described comprising a platen having aplurality of fingers adapted to move upwardly through parallel slotsextending inwardly from an edge of the platform and a stop memberpositioned above the platen to engage the uppermost of the slices-tolimit upward travel of the group as the group is elevated, and means forlaterally moving the platen toward and away from the platform.

Another object of the present invention is toprovide new and improvedmechanism of the character described including means for lifting theplaten from a lower to an'upper level .to elevate a group of slices froma platform at the beginning of a return stroke and for lowering theplaten to deposit a group of slices on the upper belt runs of a beltconveyor at the end of a return stroke.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improvedapparatus for classifying successive groups of the slices.

'Another object of the present invention is to provide new and. improvedclassifying apparatus of the character described comprising weighingmeans for producing signals responsive to the weight of successivegroups, a conveyor having a receiving portion and'a discharging portion,the discharging. portion being movable between a first and a secondposition, means for transferring successive groups from the weighingmeans to the receiving portion of the conveyor, and means for moving thedischarging portion of the conveyor between the first and secondpositions ones of the signals.

Another object of the present invention is to provide new and improvedclassifying apparatus of the character described wherein the conveyorhas conveying and returning runs and comprises endless parallel bandsentrained over parallel roll means at opposite ends of the runs of theconveyor and wherein the moving means axially shifts the roll means atone-end of the runs in response to the aforesaid selected ones of thesignals.

These and other objects, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will be evident from the following description, with the aidof the accompanying drawings, of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

Briefly, in a preferred embodiment of theapparatus of the presentinvention'there is provided an automatically controlled apparatusforproducing weight controlled stacks of a selected counted number ofslices cut from an elongated mass or load of food product. The apparatusincludes means for feeding the loaves in response to selectedv knifethereby to vary the thickness of the slices being cut from the loaf inresponse to the weight of a stack or group of slices weighed. The signalfrom the weighing system is also provided for initiating action of aproduct accept-reject mechanism which delivers the stacks in successionto a discharge conveyor. The position of delivery to the conveyor isindicative of whether or not the stack is to be accepted or rejected. Ahigh speed transfer system is provided for removing the weighed stacksof sliced product from the scale platform of the weighing system and fortransferring the stacks to the product accept-reject mechanism.

For a better understanding of the present invention reference should behad to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with thedrawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a new and improved apparatus forproducing weight controlled groups of sliced food product and the likeconstructed in accordance with the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an isometric diagram in schematic animated form illustratingthe flow path of movement of the food product as it is moved through thevarious components of the complete apparatus;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged top plan view looking downwardly into the upperreceiving end of a feeder for diment for the belts of the feeder;

FIG. 7 is an elevational sectional view of the feeder drive train takensubstantially along line 7-7 of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating a stacker of theapparatus in accordance with the fea-' tures of the present invention; I

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the stacker;

FIG. 10 is a transverse sectional elevational view taken substantiallyalong line l010 of FIG. 9;

FIGS. 11a and 11b are a side elevational view of a weighing system andtransfer system of the apparatus in accordance with the presentinvention;

FIGS. 12a and 12b are a top plan view of the weighing and transfersystems showing a product acceptreject mechanism of the apparatus inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 12A is a sectional view taken substantially along line l2Al2A ofFIG. 11, and

FIGS. 13A, B, and C illustrate schematically an elec- I trical controlsystem for operating and controlling the apparatus of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPARATUS Referring now more particularly to thedrawings, in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 is illustrated in general fashion a newand improved apparatus 20 constructed in accordance with the features ofthe present invention for producing weight controlled stacks .or groupscontaining a selected number of slices cut from an elongated mass orloaf of food product such as cheese, meats, cold cuts, sausage, etc-Thesystem is especially well adapted for producing discrete or separategroups or stacks of a counted number of slices of food product, eachgroup having'a measured weight equal to or exceeding aselected netweight which is printed or indicated on the package in which the stackis sold. The apparatus in-- cludes a loader 30 for receiving elongatedmasses or loaves 32 of food product or the like and elevating, orientingand feeding the loaves in end-to-end relation onto a downward feed pathtoward a feeder 34. The feeder is adapted to feed the loaves at aselected feed rate into the cutting path of a rotating knife 36 of aslicer 37. The knife is carried ona shaft 38 generally parallel to thefeed path of the loaves into the slicer and is driven by a variablespeed motor 40 to vary the thickness of the slices to produce stacks orgroups meeting a'minimum weight measurement for a selected number ofslices in a package. The knife motor and shaft aresupported from a topwall 108 of a knife housing 110, which housing in turn is pivotallysupported from a main apparatus housing 164 (FIGS. 1 and 2) on a pair ofpivot pin assemblies 168. The main housing 164 is supported from a flooror other structure on legs 166.

As shown in FIG. 5, the cutting path of the rotating knife 36 beneaththe top wall 108 of the knife housing is in shearing relation with themargin or lower edge of a restrictive orifice defining ring 42positioned at the lower or discharge end of the feeder 34. The feeder 34guides the loaves through the restricted orifice opening whichcompresses and holds the product as the slices are cut therefrom. As theslices are cut by the knife they fall onto a stacker or stackingmechanism 44 (FIGS. 8, 9 and 10) for accumulation and separationintogroups or stacks 46, each of which contains a counted selected number ofslices having a prescribed minimum weight. The stacker 44 accumulates acounted selected number of slices which are fed from the .slicer atsubstantially constant intervalsbetween slices and discharges ordeposits the stacks onto a scale platform 220 of a weighing system .48which includes means forrapidly weighing the stacks and determiningwhether or not a stack meets the minimum weight requirement.'Theweighing system provides a control signal for adjusting the speed of themotor 40 and conse quently the knife speed to vary the thickness of theslices cut so that subsequent stacks will closely approach a desiredoptimum weight value. After weighing of the stacks has been completedthe stacks are removed from the scale platform by a transfer system 50and are classified by a product accept-reject-mechanism before depositonto a discharge conveyor 52. In accordance with the present inventionthe weighing system 48, in conjunction with the accept-reject system 51of the transfer system 50, positions the stacks 46 of slices on thefinal discharge conveyor 52 in a manner whereby the position of thestacks indicates whether the stack is of acceptable weight or must berejected because it is underweight or overweight. As shown in FIG. 2,one of the stacks 46 is positioned out of line with respect to the otherstacks moving along the conveyor and this out of line position is anindication to an operator at a subsequent processing or machine locationthat the stack is a reject and should be returned for rework.

The method and apparatus of the present invention is adapted to handleelongated masses or loaves 32 of meat and other food products such ascheese, etc., which is produced with a variety of different transversecross sectional shapes and dimensions and the apparatus is adjustable byan operator to produce stacks of slices numbering in a wide range, forexample, from two to 29 slices per'stack, and a wide range of stackweights, for example a range from approximately two to thirty ounces.Depending upon the density of the particular product being sliced, thenumber of slices in a stack to provide a given weight may vary somewhatand an operator may select both the number of slices in a stack and aminimum stack weight, as well as a tolerance range for overweightrejects to thereby minimize the amount of extra product supplied overthe minimum required. A control console 39 with suitable indicators isprovided for the operator for monitoring and selecting the number ofslices and the weight minimum for the stacks. The elongated loaves ofproduct to be sliced are of a substantially uniform cross-sectionthroughout their length except possibly for the ends of the loaves whichmay be rounded in a sort of bullet shape.

The loaves 32 are normally brought at random time intervals by trucks orthe like to the loader and are unloaded to lay side, by sidehorizontally on a table structure 54 which is positioned at a normalworking or supply level. The loaves are held in readiness on the tablestructure and elevated one by one by an upright elevating mechanism 56to an upper level for eventual discharge in longitudinal end-to-endrelation by a lateral discharge conveyor 58. The loaves are directedlaterally outwardly by the conveyor into a downwardlyv curving chutestructure 60 which changes their direction of feed from generallyhorizontal toward a vertical feed path into the upper end of the feeder34. If it is desired or necessary the bullet shaped ends 32a of theloaves may be chopped off or cropped in the loader by a pair of rotatingknives 62 driven by motors 64. Details of the loader 30 are set forth inthe copending US. Pat. application Ser. No. 293,145 filed Sept. 28, 1972and assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

The loaves 32 are directed'by the feeder 34 into the slicer 37 along adownward feed path through the restricted orifice opening in the orificering 42. The feed path intersects the cutting plane of the rotatingknife 36 below the top wall 108 ofthe knife housing. The feeder 34includes a pair of cleated endless belts 66 and 68 driven at a selectedspeed by a reversible feederretractor motor 70. The. belts 66 and 68 arecleated on both sides and are driven by a pair of lower drive rolls 72and 74 having cleat engaging ridges and grooves thereon 'for positivelysynchronizing the feed speed of the belts to produce a substantiallyconstant rate of feed into thecutting path. The drive roll 72 is mounted8 on a shaft 76 having a toothed gear 78 on one end, which gear is indriven engagement with a main drive gear 80 (FIG. 6). The drive gear 80is carried on a shaft 82 coupled to the output shaft of the motor 70.The cleated belt 66 is movable along a fixed, downwardly extending beltrun and the opposite belt 68 is adjustable laterally toward and awayfrom the belt run to accommodate different cross-sectional shapes andsizes of loaves that are handled by the feedeL The drive roll 74 of thecleated belt 68 is mounted on a shaft 84 havinga gear 86 on one endthereof and this gear is in driving engagement with an idler gear 88mounted on an idler shaft 90. The shaft 90 is linked with the shaft 82by a pivot link 92 and, as best shown in FIG. 6, as addrive belts 66 and68 are made, the gear 86 is moved toward and away from the gear 78 (asindicated by the arrow A) while in continuous synchronous drivenengagement therewith through the main driven gear 86 and the idler gear88. In order to insure that the idler gear 88 is continuously biasedinto driving engagement between the gears and 86, the shaft includes aflatted end portion 90a which is urged downwardly by a finger 92 biaseddownwardly by a coil spring 94 (FIG. 7)

The upper ends of the belts are supported by idler rolls 96 and 98respectively and each belt has an inside, downward run opposite andfacing the other for positive driving engagement on opposite sides ofthe loaves 32. As best shown in FIG. 5 the belt 66 is provided with abacking guide member 100 having a belt engaging surface formed withalternate ridges and grooves thereon providing an undulated guide pathfor the driving run of the belt. The belt 68 has a similar backing guidemember 102 with an undulated guide surface and the ridges on one guidemember are disposed opposite the grooves on the opposite guide so that aserpentine path is defined between the guides 100 and 102 by the drivingruns of the belts 66 and 68. The serpentine path provided by the driveruns of the belts 66 and 68 provides for positive gripping and feedingof the loaves into the slicer 37 and a substantially constant downwardfeed rate is maintained with very little if any slippage. The beltbacking guides 100 and 102 insure that each loaf passing through thefeeder 34 is positively fed along a precise feed path into the cuttingpath of the knife 36 at a substantially constant selected feed rate.

In order to accommodate loaves 32 having various different crosssections and transverse dimensions, the belt 68 and backing structure102 are supported on a support 104 movable toward and away from the runof v the slicer is in a nonnal operating position. When it is desired toclean the slicer'or change the knife 36, the

knife housing is pivoted on the pivot axles 168 to expose the undersideof the wall 102 and knife 36. The support 106 for the belt 66 includesan upright guide 1 12 of generally Z-shaped transverse cross-section(FIG. 4) and the lower end of this structure is attached to the housingwall 108 by a pair of pivot pins 114 having pull rings in the end forextracting the pins so that the feeder 34 may be disconnected from theknife housing 110 for cleaning or maintenance if required. The pins 114normally extend through aligned apertures in a pair of brackets 116secured to the guide structure 112 and a pair of upstanding brackets 118mounted on the top wall 108 of the knife housing.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the Z-shaped guide 112 is formed with aplurality of spaced apart, horizontal fingers 120 along one flangethereof, said fingers projecting outwardly of the face of the drivingrun of the belt 66 for engaging and laterally guiding a transverse sideof a loaf 32 fed down the feed path into the orifice ring 42. Thesupport 104 for the belt 68 includes a similar guide 122 of Z-shapedtransverse cross-section ('FIG. 4) and this guide has a plurality ofspaced apart, horizontal fingers 124 along one flange adaptedto extendinto the slots and mesh between the fingers 120 of the guide 106 whenthe spacing interval between the belts 66 and 68 is reduced toaccommodate relatively thin loaves of food product. Pairs of guidefingers 120 and 124 thus cooperate to provide a transverse guidingsurface that is adjustable in width and generally transverse to paths ofthe driving runs 68.

The guide structure 122, endless belts 68 and backing member 102 aresupported for movement toward and away from the belt 66 from a pair ofparallel horizontal rods 126 disposed outwardly of opposite edges of thebelts 66 and 68. The support rods extend between sleeves-128 mountedadjacent the upper end of the upright 112 and mounting aperturesprovided in the upper end of an upright support 130 spaced outwardly ofthe belt 68. The drive shafts 76 and 84 for the drive rolls 72 and 74and the shafts for the upper idler rolls 96 and 98 of the belts 66 and68, are mounted and supported on bearings (not shown in detail) carriedon the finger flanges of the respective upright guides 112 and 122. Theguide 122 is provided with a pair of support sleeves 132 similar to thesleeves 128 and in sliding enof the endless belts 66 and gagement on thesupport rods 126 so that the belt 68' may be adjusted in the directionof the arrows .B in FIGS. 4 and toward and away from the belt 66. The

upright support 130 is detachably connected to the top wall 108 of theknife housing 110 by means of a pair of removable pins 134 having pullrings at one end and the pins are adapted to project through alignedopenings in the lower end of the upright support 130 and a pair ofupstanding lugs .136 secured to the knife housing top wall 108 (FIG. 5).By removing both sets of pins 114 and 134, the entire feeder 34 can bedismounted from the knife housing 110 of the slicer 37 and if only thepins 134 are removed, the structure of the feeder can be pivoted in acounterclockwise direction (FIG. 5) about the axis pins 114 to exposethe lower or discharge end of the feeder and expose the removableorifice ring 42.

Orifice rings having various different shapes and sizes of restrictedorifices are insertable in an opening in the housing top wall 108 offsetoutwardly of the axis of the drive shaft 38 of the knife as best shownin FIG. 5. Each time that loaves of'a different cross-section aresliced, an appropriately shaped orifice ring is inserted and locked inplace in the-opening in the knife housing top wall 108.

Adjustment of the position of the endless belt 68 toward or away fromthe belt 66 in the directions indicated by the arrows B to accommodatedifferent types of product is set and controlled by a hand wheel 138mounted on the end of a threaded shaft 140. The shaft, which extendsthrough an internally threaded collar 142 provided on the upright, 130,is coupled at its inner end to the back side of the guide member 122 viaa-coupling 144. Turning of the hand wheel 138 positively adjustsandholds spacing between the belts 66 and 68 providing a'serpentine path ofselected width for the loaves 32 fed into the cutting path of the knifeReferring to FIG. 4, the feeder 34 is provided with an elongated uprightguide bar 146 spaced opposite the cooperating guide fingers 120 and 124and adjustably positioned to move toward and away from the guide fingersas well as toward and away from the faces of the belts 66 and 68asindicated in the dotted lines of FIG. 4. The guide bar 146 is providedwith a pair of support pins 148 extending outwardly and slidably mountedin openings provided in a separate upright member150. The upright 150 inturn is slidably supported on a pair of rods 152 extending outwardlyfrom a relatively fixed member 154. A hand wheel 156' on the outer end.of a threaded adjustment rod 158 is provided for adjusting (in thedirection of the arrows C) and setting the position of the guide bar 146(FIG. 4) relative to the opposite guide fingers 120 and 124. The innerend of the adjustment rod 158 is rotatively coupled to the guide bar andthe rod extends through an internally threaded collar attached tothe'member 150 to provide in and out position adjustment of the guidebar relative to the support member 150. The support 150 is slidable onthe rods 152 and is movable in the direction of the arrows D. Clampingmeans is provided for securing the member 150 in a selected position onthe rods 152 after an adjustmentis made and a. position is selected.

The elongated loaves 32 of food product are positively fed at a selectedsubstantially constant rate along the feed path by the drivingengagement of the driving runs of the cleated feed belts 66 and 68 andthe product is compressed and bent in reverse direction as it'moves downthe serpentine path defined by the belts and their backing members 102.Each loaf is positively gripped by the belts and fed into the path ofthe cutting knife 36 so that little if any slippage occurs. The loavesare retained between the feed belts by, the cooperating guide fingers120 and 124 on one sideand the adjustable guide bar 146 on the oppositeside.

In accordance with the present invention, in order to hold and preciselyguide the productloaves 32 in cutting engagement with the rotating knife36, the insertable orifice rings 42 are seated in the opening providedin the top wall 108 of the knife housing. For each differentcross-sectional shape or size of loaf being slices,

' an appropriate orifice ring 42 is provided. The rings are dimensionedso that the dimension at the lower edge or margin of the orifice openingis slightly smaller than the normal uncompressed cross-section of theproduct loaf being sliced. The loaves, being substantially uniform in.

cross-section, are compressed inwardly towards the longitudinal axisthereof by engagement with the walls of the orifice ring 42. The loavesare also compressed in a longitudinal direction when forced through theorifice ring because the walls of the orifice opening are convergentlytapered. The orifice ring and its compression effect on the loafsupports the end portion and permits a loaf to be sliced down to its endafter it is no longer in engagement with the belts of the feeder.

As shown in FIG. 5, the margin or lower edge of the orifice'ring 42 issecured in shear cutting relation with the cutting path defined by thecutting edge of the rotating knife 36 so that precise and rapid slicingof the positively held food product loaves 32 is achieved. As slicesfrom the loaf 32 are cut by the high speed rotary knife 36, theindividual slices fall downwardly from the cutting path for groupinginto stacks having a selected number of slices therein by the stacker 44(FIGS. 8, 9 and 10). The slices are cut from the loaves 32 on anuninterrupted basis as the loaves are moved downwardly into the slicer37 at a constant rate by the feeder 34 through the orifice ring 42. Itis a feature of the present invention that no interruption in feeding ofthe loaves is required because the stacker 44 is operable to rapidlyhandle and separate accumulated slices into stacks having the selectednumber of slices therein. In addition, the stacker 44 provides for asubstantially'constant distance of fall for each slice as it leaves. thecutting plane to a level whereat the slice is supported either by apreceding slice as the stack is accumulating or by a support platen. Asubstantially constant distance of fall from the cutting path to asupport level for each slice being cut is accomplished by providing avertically reciprocating carriagel60 movable from an upper orstartinglevel on a downward stroke at substantially the same speed as the loaves32 are fed downwardly by the feeder 34 into the cutting path of theknife 36. As a stack is collected and the height or thickness of thestack increases, the downward travel of the carriage 160 compensates toprovide essentially a constant support level for each successive slicefalling from the cutting path. The stacker 44 of the present inventionis operable at very high speeds so that production rates as high as 160stacks per minute or greater are achieved. The stacker includes arectangular enclosure or housing 162 mounted beneath the knife housing110 and within the main housing or enclosure 164 of the apparatus.

The carriage 160 comprises a vertical front plate supporting a pair ofhorizontal shaft housings 172 which project outwardly thereof and aredetachably mounted on the front plate. The housings include circularbase flanges 174 removably attached to the carriage plate by largeheaded fasteners 176. The shaft housings-172 are aligned in horizontalparallel relation and are spaced on opposite sides of a verticalcenterline through the front plate 170 aligned below the downward feedpath of loaves moving through the feeder 34 and the slices cut from theloaves by the rotating knife 36. As best shown in FIG. 10, the frontplate of the stacker carriage is provided with a pair of rearwardlyextending lugs 178 having vertical apertures therein and slidablydisposed on an upright guide rod 180 for guiding the travel 'of thecarriage in repetitive cycles comprising downward and return strokes.The carriage is biased upwardly to an upper starting level by acoilspring 182 disposed on the rod and a cushion 184 is provided adjacentthe upper end of the rod to aid in cushioning the carriage at the end ofan upward return stroke. A pair of incremental stepping motors 186 andl87,are mounted on the back of the carriage plate 170 and the axes ofthe motors are in coaxial alignment with the left and right hand shafthousings 172. The stepping motors are adapted to drive and aredetachably coupled to a pair of outwardly extending platen controlshafts 188 with each shaft supporting three rows of outwardly extendinghair pin shaped fingers 190 arranged in planes spaced at angles apartaround the axes of the shafts as viewed in FIG. 9. The sets of fingers190 in each plane on the left hand shaft 188 comprises a paddle-likeplaten 192 and similarly for the right shaft, platens 192R are formed.Successive pairs of horizontally aligned intermeshing platens 192L and192R provide support for accumulating successive stacks of slicedproduct cut from the loaves 32 by the knife 36 in the cutting pathabove. As best shown in FIG. 9 the left and right shafts 188 are indexedby stepping motors in increments of 120 in opposite directions so thatthe pairs of platens 192L and 192R cooperate to discharge an accumulatedstack downwardly toward the weighing system and the next pair of platens192L and 192R then form a horizontal support for accumulating the nextsuccessive stack of slices 46 thereon.

As additional slices are cut and added to a stack formed on the platens,the carriage is traveling downwardly at a rate substantially the same asthe rate of feed of the loaves 32 into the cuttingpath of the knife 36.Accordingly, a substantiallyconstant distance offall from the cuttingpath to a support level is provided by the stacker 44 for the successiveslices in a stack. As the last slices in the stack are being added thecarriage 160 is approaching the lowestmost position, and the steppingmotors 186 and 187 are energized by controlled pulses to rotativelyindex the shafts 188 by 120 in opposite directions as shown in FIG. 9 todischarge or release the accumulated stack of meat slices and form thenext support means with a successive set of cooperative platens 192L and192R moving into the horizontal position ready to accumulate the slicesof the succeeding stack.,lndexing of the shafts 188 by the steppingmotors 186 and 187 is rapid so that the already accumulated stack ofslices is released and the next set of platens 192L and 193R move intohorizontal position with no interruption of the normal feed rate of theload into the slicer. Indexing of the platens occurs during the timevthat the carriage 160 is moving upwardly on its return stroke by thespring 182 so that, as the first slice arrives for the next successivestack, a substantially constant dropping is maintained. As eachsuccessive slice is accumulated in a stack, the carriage 160 has moveddownwardly by an increment substantially equal to the thickness of theslice.

Travel of the carriage 160' on a downward stroke while accumulating thesliced meat product is accomplished by means of a vertical, toothed rack194 secured to the back of the carriage plate on a supporting structure196. The rack is in meshing engagement with a pinion 19 8 mounted on apinion shaft 200 which is coupled to the output. shaft of anelectromagnetic particle clutch 202. An input shaft of the clutch 202 iscoupled to a gear reducer204 which in turn is coupled to the outputshaft of a continuously rotating stacker drive motor 206 through a rightangle gear box 208 as best shown in FIG. 9. The stacker drive motor,thespeed of which is infinitely variable over a range to enable the rateof downward movement of the carriage 160 substantially to equal the rateat which the load being sliced is fed to the slicer, is continuouslyenergized and running when the apparatus 20 is in opera-- tion and theclutch 202 is intermittently supplied with power for precise intervalsof time to rotate the pinion

1. Apparatus for classifying successive groups of sliced food productcomprising weighing means for producing signals responsive to the weightof successive groups, a conveyor having a receiving portion and adischarging portion, said discharging portion being movable between afirst and a second position and including one or more endless bandstrained over a roll, means for transferring successive groups from saidweighing means to the receiving portion of said conveyor, and means foraxially shifting said Roll for moving said discharging portion of saidconveyor between said first and second positions in response to selectedones of said signals.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said conveyorhas conveying and returning runs and comprises endless parallel elasticbands entrained over parallel roll means at opposite ends of said runsof said conveyor.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said shiftingmeans includes means for resiliently biasing said discharging portiontoward said first position.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein saidshifting means includes means for moving said discharging portion ofsaid conveyor against the force of said biasing means toward said secondposition.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said selected ones of saidsignals correspond to a weight value as measured by said weighing meansof a group of slices weighing at or above a selected minimum level. 6.The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said weighing means comprises means forproducing an error signal in response to a difference between a measuredweight of a group of slices and a selected reference weight.